ALEX Eala subdued Kristina Dmitruk of Belarus yesterday in straight sets 6-2, 7-5 to enter the main draw of the WTA Toyota Thailand Open at the True Arena in Hua Hin, Thailand.
In a battle between two teeners, Eala, 17, lived up to her slightly higher Women’s Tennis Association ranking of No. 214 to beat Dmitruk, 19, (No. 234) and advance to the opening round of the $259,063 (roughly P14.4 million) meet in the resort city overlooking the Gulf of Thailand.
Eala earlier overcame China’s Han Xinyun 6-1, 7-6 (7-6) in the first qualifying round last Saturday in her first outing since making her debut as a pro last month in the Australian Open.
Eala will find out who her opponent will be in the first round once the results of the second qualifying round are complete.
In a match that lasted just under an hour, Eala set the tone early in the first set, surging to a 3-1 lead after breaking the Belarussian in the first set.
She broke Dmitruk again in the seventh set to gain an imposing 5-2 lead then wrapped up it up by holding serve in the next to take a 1-0 set advantage.
The second set was much closer, with the two battling early to a 2-all deadlock until the left-handed Eala gained a key service break in the fifth following a deuce for a 3-2 edge that she stretched to 4-2.
